NATF / Tony Hawkins Institute Advanced Production Workshop
Weekend Workshop Features Studio-Based Sound Design and Mixing
for Short-Form Storytelling
Thursday March 2 - Sunday, March 5, 2006 at Hedquist Productions, Inc.
Workshop Description
When William Shakespeare wrote, "Brevity is the soul of wit," he could well have been thinking about modern times. With limited time available through broadcast and the Internet, it is more important than ever that today's audio producer possess the ability to tell their complete story effectively and succinctly.
An audio producer is at heart a storyteller and an artist. Yet it is difficult to tell a story or express art when there are time limitations.
The National Audio Theatre Festivals, Inc.' Tony Hawkins Institute for Advanced Audio Production Studies is addressing that problem. The workshop presents Masters of Short-Form Storytelling, Jeffrey Hedquist and Jim Metzner, in a rare and exceptional forum where audio dramatists and producers will identify the possibilities beyond routine daily production.
Offered is a unique opportunity to broaden the producer's audio palette. Produce richer audio using the additional sonic possibilities of sound effects, sound design, and music.
The workshop, March 2-5, 2006, in Fairfield, Iowa is accepting a maximum of 12 participants.
The Workshop Staff:
| Jim Metzner is an audio recordist and Executive Producer of "Pulse of the Planet" has produced more than 4,000 short-format radio programs since 1979, winning over a dozen broadcasting awards, including the 1995 Grand Award at the International Radio Festival of New York. For many years he believed what his older brother had told him; namely that when he was a baby he had a little tail and had been found in a rocket ship. For more information on Jim's work and Pulse of the Planet CD's, please visit http://www.pulseplanet.com.
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| Jeffrey Hedquist is a radio creator / director / talent / producer / storyteller / songwriter who has produced thousands of radio commercials and soundtracks for TV and other visual media, audio books (27 versions of Chicken Soup for the Soul), original music, on-hold messaging and audio marketing. He's won over 700 advertising awards for clients in 44 states.
Jeffrey has delivered hundreds of seminars and workshops on radio, storytelling, improv and "creating for the imagination" throughout the United States and internationally. To learn more about his work visit http://www.hedquist.com.
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| Andy MacKenzie will be one of two Technical Assistants working with participants throughout the weekend. Andy is an engineer/producer/musician and renowned ProTools maven who has produced most of Hedquist Productions' award-winning commercials and audiobooks.
Andy has created two solo albums, Horizontal Program and Horizontal Dance Party and an album called Mutation - using sampling, editing, effects processing and other studio finaglery to create something new from strands of classic Beatles DNA.
He has performed and sung in many plays and musicals, including Forever Plaid. Lately he is heard as the lead singer in the Beatles cover band Yellow Submarine. You can learn more about Andy at http://www.hedquist.com/MeetYourTeam.php.
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| David Shinn of SueMedia will also be a Technical Assistant throughout the workshop. David is a sound designer/engineer, and live sound effects and foley artist for stage, film and studio productions. In addition to working on a full-length animated feature, David is currently co-producing the nationally syndicated Radio Works series. David is experienced in working with and teaching both ProTools and Sound Forge.
For the last few years David has also served as NATF's Technical Coordinator for the annual Audio Theatre Workshops.
Before moving to New York from northern California, David hosted the award winning radio theatre show The Voice of the Imagination on station KMUD and started a radio theatre troupe doing weekly hour-long live variety shows.
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Sue Zizza - Project Coordinator - NATF Executive Director
For over 15 years Sue has been producing national award winning audio theatre programming. Almost 60 public radio stations from coast-to-coast broadcast her series The Radio Works. She is a writer, director, producer and sound designer specializing in live (Foley) effects for audio and the stage. Her clients have included the SciFi Channel's Seeing Ear Theatre and USA Productions, as well as the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts.
Sue is a member of the adjunct faculty at the New York University's Tisch School of the Arts where she teaches recording and sound design.
In addition to owning SueMedia, a recording studio on L. I., Sue teaches audio production workshops throughout the country and has been the Executive Director of the National Audio Theatre Festivals, Inc. since 1996 - www.natf.org. Over the years Sue's work, has been honored by The Gabriels, The National Federation of Community Broadcasters and The Communicator Awards.
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Participant Requirements
Workshop registrants must have Intermediate level radio and or /audio digital editing and mixing skills and audio drama/story telling experience. Audio dramatists and documentaries are welcome.
The NATF staff will work primarily with ProTools (M-Box and Digi 002). Participants are invited to bring their own portable digital editing systems.
Prerequisites:
Those wanting to attend must submit the following by February 10, 2006along with all registration materials. Those registering after February 10th must also still submit work samples and story ideas. Preference will be given to those submitting by February 10, 2006.
- 1) Submit a CD with 1 or two examples that display your skill level, including editing, mixing / production skill and story telling abilities.
- 2) Submit one or two possible audio stories you wish to create using advanced editing and mixing skills. These can be script ideas or a description and outline. They should be no more than one page in length. The team leaders may pick one or two of these potential stories for production during the workshop.
Tentative Daily Schedule
Thursday, March 2, 2006: Register - Sign-In
3:00 PM - Van transport from Cedar Rapids Airport to Fairfield, IA
Check in, Register, sign-in - Super 8 Motel
7:30 - Opening reception & dinner (included in registration fee)
Friday, March 3, 2006:
9:30am - noon - Production examples from Metzner and Hedquist along with the stories, principles and methods behind each.
We will provide voice tracks, sound effects, music and/or scripts, which you'll work with in groups to produce short audio pieces.
Noon - 1:30 - Lunch "on your own" on location at Hedquist's. Lunch will be brought in to the studio - particpants will "pay as they go" for meals ordered.
1:30 - 4:00 - Work on "your own story"
4:30- 5:30 - Dinner break - on your own in Fairfield* Participants will be brought to town by shuttle for dinner break. See resturant information below.
6:00- 9:00 - Recording elements
First Friday's "Art Walk" held that night in Fairfield. Record the sounds of a Fairfield Community event: crowds, art galleries
teeming with locals and tourists, an open mike, several kinds of dance demonstrations and workshops, book signings, street entertainers, and a drum circle. Use what you collect to create short audio stories, or... Work to Create - sound and script ideas from participants work samples, these will be selected in advance.
Saturday, March 4, 2006:
9:30am - noon - Participants work in groups to produce their own work or on projects created from Friday evening recordings.
Noon - 1:30 - Lunch is "on your own" on location at Hedquist's - same as Friday lunch.
1:30 - 4:00 - Continue working in groups to produce their own work or on projects created from Friday evening recordings.
4:30- 5:30 - Dinner break - on your own in Fairfield.*
6:00- 9:00 - Participants complete production on their projects.
Sunday, March 5, 2006:
Closing reception, brunch, listening celebration. Van transport from Fairfield, IA to Cedar Rapids Airport
(Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) - Cedar Rapids, IA) for your journey home.
*Fairfield has an eclectic assortment of affordable restaurants: Thai, Italian, Chinese, French, Mexican, and Indian as well as traditional American. There are lots of choices for vegetarians & carnivores, organic and non-organic, fast food or slow food.
Workshop Costs
Registration Fee: $325 by February 10, 2006
Late Registration Fee: $375 from February 11-March 1, 2006.
Please note: Late registrations must still include all necessary work samples.
Hotel:
$60 per night for a single room ($180 total), $32 per night for a shared room ($96 total)
Hotel rooms MUST BE BOOKED directly through NATF in order to receive promotional rates. Rooms at the Super 8 Hotel in Fairfield, Iowa, include a continental breakfast, indoor pool, and high speed internet connection. For more information visit their
web site.
Transportation:
$120 Includes transportation to and from the Cedar Rapids airport and to and from the Super 8 Hotel to Hedquist Productions.
Attendees must book their own flights into Cedar Rapids to arrive no later than 2:30pm on Thursday, March 2.
For more information and registration forms contact NATF at (516) 483-8321 or visit www.natf.org.
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